Road trip

After spending less that 24 hours at home I was back on the road and back to Tullamarine where I met up with Raewyn. We stayed at a hotel at the airport and this morning headed off up the Hume highway.  We were supposed to turn off onto the Goulburn Highway but I missed the turn off, so we continued on up the Hume.  Never let a missed turn spoil a good road trip!!
We stopped at a road side rest stop for a comfort stop and then I discovered there were 2 geocaches, one at each end of the rest area. One was in an area with lots of black boy plants, I will have to add a photo later as they are on my camera.

Raewyn and I just worked out how to get the photos from the camera to the tablet here...wonders of modern technology!! Not much helped by tired brain!!!

A spot of geocaching.

 We stopped at Holbrook for lunch and then carried on to Gundagai where a compulsory stop was needed for a photo of the Dog on the Tucker Box.

Thanks to Raewyn for the photo.

And a photo with the koala!! 😊

Raewyn perfected the NSW backwards parking manoeuvre in one go, I was most impressed!!

We arrived into Forbes around  6pm on just the fumes in the petrol tank I think, never been that close to empty before!!

Some knitting was done in the car today, not in the mood for it tonight, just blog reading and lolling about.

Off to Baradine to meet the lovely ladies tomorrow!!

Woohoo!!

Back in Waikiki

Well the cruise is over and we are back on the island. We had a good time and saw and learned lots, I have heaps of photos all on the camera but do have a few here on the tablet

We found a quilt shop on Maui, at Wailuku and it was the best!! So much to choose from and to look at. I did come out with some goodies I must admit.

We did a road trip along the north side of Maui, called the road to Hana, there were many many windy corners and many one way bridges, it was an interesting trip. The scenery on the way was stunning, the stop above was at a beach, no sand just the ocean crashing in on the volcanic rocks.

Then we had lunch at a beach that was mostly black sand, comes from the grinding down of the volcanic rock.

Our last afternoon on the ship was spent watching the Na Pali coast line go by

Luckily for us the sun came out as we were sailing by. This area has been used for many movies Durasic Park amongst them.

First night in the hotel we found happy hour, we were encouraged to have 2 drinks, and as they were free we did!! We gope to make it back there again tonight. Last night we were at a Luau, we feasted on roast pig and all kinds of salads and unusual veges

Apologies to any vegetarians,  the presentation of the pig

And the begjnning of the nights entertainment. There was dance and song from Samoa, Tahiti, Hawaii, NZ and Fiji. They put on a wonderful show. At the end of the  show they did knife sword fire dancing, most impressive in the dark,  no photos as they ask you do not use flash on the camera and I was too busy watching. Most of the entertainers are from Samoa.

Yesterday we went on a bus trip around the island this was one of the last beaches we stopped to look at

This was the blowhole

Such a beautiful place, the water colour is stunning, lots of people were snorkeling. 

Today we have been to Pearl Harbour and had a look where the USS Arizona memorial is, very emotional place. No  bags allowed in the visitors centre so no photos on the tablet.

I have been doing a little sewing here and there, not as much as I thought I might

This is block one of the Old Time Kaleidoscope quilt, a BOM from Shiralee Stitches, I prepared 5 of these  before I came away.....mmmmm.....not a lot of stitching time when you are being a tourist.

Jenny is having a snooze now, when she is up and about we are heading off to get some things for her to take home, and I might go to the beach for a swim....there is another quilt shop here in the hotel complex I haven't visited yet though!! Spoilt for choice here.

Hawaii

We arrived this morning, about 9.30, got thru customs, collected our bags, found the shuttle bus people and then waited for the shuttle form a while. Finally got tomthe hotel about midday. This afternoon we have been for a wonder along Waikiki beach and checked out many shops.

The view from out hotel 

Waikiki beach where we sat and had lunch.

This beautiful big tree was along the beach a ways.

Now we are back at the hotel and I have my feet up! A Bud and a book I am happy. I have heaps of hand stitching to do but am too tired, it was too dark to sew on the plane, might get to it tomorrow.

We have a slow morning tomorrow, can stay in the room here until midday, we get  picked up by a shuttle bus at 12.30 and get taken to the ship, so no internet for me for 7 days, but then I will be back.

 Happy stitching.

One thing

I enjoy when I go for a walk is driveways or paths that wind and weave so you can't see the end.

a drive way I pass on my walks

the entrance to Edwards Point

walk way to the beach.

The desert rose still has lots of flowers, love how they get more pink as they age.

I sent of my blocks to NZ for the healing hearts quilt, pus three chubby knitted hearts to go with some quilts.

Yesterday I was given some figs, so made a batch of fig and ginger jam as you do!! Tastes good too.

I have finished the mosaic on the bird bowl, needs to set now and then it will be grouted.

Today I cut and cut and cut and I have 80 One Block Wednesday blocks cut ready for sewing.

They will not be sewn for a while as I am off on a holiday tomorrow and not sure what wifi I will be able to access. 

Flying to NZ then flying to Hawaii

and going on a cruise around the islands there. I am going with Jenny and we are celebrating her soon coming 60th.

Happy stitching. 

A finish

The sewing bag/bucket is finished, I did the hand sewing on the binding while watching TV last night.

Yay, project completed.

Today I had to go into Geelong to pick up my car, so decided a quick diversion into the fabric shop was needed, I decided to make a few blocks for the appeal  put out by Angels in Gumboots for blocks to make quilts for the families of the people who lost their lives in Christchurch last Friday.

This afternoon I completed 5 blocks

It is wonderful to go to the Angels in Gumboots page and see all the wonderful responses! Restores your faith in human kind.

These are the instructions if you are in making a few blocks the address to send them to is on the fb page. (Different address to the pattern I now see)

another packet arrived in the mail today from Shiralee Stitches for the Old Time Kaleidoscope quilt. More challenging cutting to be done!

Time to sort some dinner, happy stitching.

I came

Home early from sit and sew at Bellarine as I wanted to get on with the Scrub Stitching sewing bucket, but first I decided to make another dress with an adapted top.

The top is inside out, I took off one row of lace and cut back the under fabric, it came down over my bum very snuggly 😊 the top came from the op shop.

This fabric came from Lincraft and cost $5.00. I pleated a little pinned and sewed, then had a little panic as I thought I had twisted the top, but I managed to sort it out.

Ta dah...one dress , slightly wonky hem line but I am happy.

Ok my first effort, I put the base on inside out...

So I corrected that and got the base sewn on only to find I now had it upside down!!!😭😳😳

Finally got it together..yay!! 

David was hanging out for dinner but I wanted to get the binding on ready for hand sewing.

Dinner has now been eaten, I am off to sew on the binding.